Mercury Marine Fighting E15

In concert with its Brunswick Corp. parent company, Mercury Marine is joining the National Marine Manufacturers Association to support the “Look Before You Pump” campaign to discourage powerboat owners/operators from using E15 gasoline in their marine engines, according to a press release from the Fond Du Lac, Wis., company. Containing 15 percent ethanol, E15 fuel has been proven to damage marine engines.

Earlier today, the NMMA announced that it will distribute “Look Before You Pump” messaging and materials, which provides powerboaters with information and statistics on the damaging effects of a 15-percent ethanol blend on the life and performance of marine engines.

“Most boats are fueled up at gas stations, and many of those stations have not posted the required fuel use warning labels,” said Dave Marlow, Brunswick’s director of Product Integrity/Government Affairs, in the release. “If E15 becomes the most common fuel at those pumps, we are concerned about how the consumer will make the right choice and not mis-fuel their vessel; thereby voiding their engine’s warranty and potentially causing engine failure.”

“Using gasoline with ethanol levels above 10 percent can harm your engine and fuel system components,” added Marty Bass, Mercury Marine’s vice president of Global Category Management, in the release. “We will continue to fight against E15 in marine engines. We need to get this message in the hands of every boater before they fill-up because if they don’t know, they could damage their engine. Most of these failures don’t occur at the dock, but rather while you are on the water, which then becomes much more dangerous.”

Photo courtesy/copyright Jay Nichols/Naples Image.